GALLUPing Toward Enlightenment
(?) June 11th, 2001

A common idea among skeptics is that the general public is arrayed against them.  Most of us think that people generally believe the paranormal side of things, because most people are seemingly incapable of critical thinking.  Fortunately, Gallup comes along and give us a clearer idea of what's really going on:

 
this info is (c) 2001 The Gallup Organization

2001 May 10-14
(sorted by "believe")


Believe


Not sure

Don’t believe

%

%

%

Psychic or spiritual healing or the power of the human mind to heal the body

54

19

26

ESP or extrasensory perception

50

20

27

That houses can be haunted

42

16

41

That people on this earth are sometimes possessed by the devil

41

16

41

Ghosts or that spirits of dead people can come back in certain places and situations

38

17

44

Telepathy, or communication between minds without using the traditional five senses

36

26

35

That extraterrestrial beings have visited earth at some time in the past

33

27

38

Clairvoyance, or the power of the mind to know the past and predict the future

32

23

45

That people can hear from or communicate mentally with someone who has died

28

26

46

Astrology, or that the position of the stars and planets can affect people's lives

28

18

52

Witches

26

15

59

Reincarnation, that is, the rebirth of the soul in a new body after death

25

20

54

Channeling, or allowing a "spirit-being" to temporarily assume control of a human body during a trance

15

21

62

It looks bad, at first glance.  These numbers speak volumes, and the paranormalites are using the volumes to enhance their egos...public perception seems to fall in their favor.

But that ain't the whole story. 

Look closely.  While 42% of the people polled (and we all know how uncomfortable that is) believe that houses can be haunted, 41% don't believe it.  Our favorite is this one:

That exraterrestrial beings have visited earth at some point in the past:  33% believe, 38% don't

Hey UFOnuts: Put that in your collective pipes and smoke it!

Same goes for those of you who think that most people believe in witches, reincarnation, ghosts, John Edward, astrology and spirit channeling. 

Something just occurred to me: maybe we're actually doing some good with this page.  Yeah, and maybe I'm a Chinese jet pilot. 

 

 

GALLUPing
June 11th, 2001

A Million Damn Dollars
May 31st, 2001

Government Stooges
May 13th, 2001